Rotary well drilling apparatus



Maid 30, 1 v D. DRISOLL' 2,075,028

I v ROTARY WELL DRILLING APPARATUS I Filed Nov. 1 1, 1935 I 2Sheets-Sheet 1 March' 30, 1937. p. L. oRlscdu..

ROTARY WELL DRILLING APPA RATUS Filed Nov. 11-, 19:55 2 Sheets-Sheet 2M,- 5 m n k w D h).

u M D 7 152a Alva/7" Patented Mar. 30, 1937 UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE2,075,028 ROTARY WELL DRILLING APPARATUS Dennis L. Driscoll, LosAngeles, Calif.

Application November 11, 1935, SerialNo. 49,175

2 Claims.

This invention relates to rotary well drilling apparatus and relatesmore particularly to a rotary or rotary table and its bushings andslips. A general object of this invention is to provide 5 a simple,strong and particularly efiective rotary table assembly.

In the rotary method of well drilling the string of drilling tools isrotated by means of a rotary table carrying bushings which have drivingengagement with a polygonal stem or kelly on the drilling string. Atypical rotary table has a central opening for receiving a table bushingor master bushing. 'The opening of the table has a square portionreceiving a square part of the master bushing to provide a rotary drivefor the bushing. A typical master bushing of the type now in general usehas an opening with a square portion for receiving the square part of a.Kelly bushing for rotating the drilling string and a tapered portionfor supporting slips to grip and support the drilling string when makingup and breaking the joints of the string. This construction providesonly four sets of rotation transmitting surfaces on the master bushingand Kelly bushing for, transmitting the rotative forces,

These surfaces are subjected to excessive wear and as the wear increasesthe resultant play permits a back lash or hammering action to develop.The hammering and jarring of the partsis very injurious to the entirerotary and its drive. It has been found that the rather thin walledskirt of the master bushing and the interior of the rotary table areparticularly subjected to excessive wear due to increasing play, theskirt of the master bushing assuming the greater portion of the load dueto wearing of the *parts. The square portion of a typical master bushingopening must be of substantial extent and materially reduces! the extentof the tapered portion of the opening for carrying the slips. The squareportion of the master bushing opening being at the upper end of thebushing requires that the slips be lowered.

a rotary table assembly that provides a multiplicity of cooperatingrotation transmitting surfaces on the master bushing and Kelly bushingheld or maintained in proper rotation transmitting engagement therebyeliminating the wearing of the various parts and back lash or playbetween the parts of the Kelly bushing.

Another object of this invention is to provide a rotary table assemblythat includes a master bushing having an opening which may be tapered toits upper end whereby the slips may have full extensive engagement withthe tapered in-. ternal surface of the master bushing. Another object ofthis invention is to provide the combination of a master bushing and aKelly bushing wherein a positive and strong rotation transmitting driveis providedbetween the master-bushing and the Kelly bushing which doesnot materially reduce the area of the tapered internal surface of themaster bushing or require that the slips be lowered or set below theupper surface of the master bushing. As the slips of the presentinvention may be flush with or may project above the surface of thetable the handles of the slips may lie flat on the table therebypreventing injury of the handles and the workmen by an elevator strikingthe handles.

Another object of this invention is to provide a rotary table assemblycomprising a master bushing and a Kelly bushinghaving interlocking partsforminga positive rotation transmitting drive for the Kelly bushing thatprevents upward movement and displacement of the Kelly bushing whenunder heavy torque.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rotary table assemblyembodying simple renewable or replaceable wear taking rotativetransmittingparts.

Another object of this invention is to provide a rotary table assemblyof the character mentioned in which the slips may be easily and quicklyassembled .in and removed from the master bushing.

The various objects and. features of my invention will be fullyunderstood from the following detailed description of a typicalpreferred. form and applicationof my invention, throughout whichdescription reference is made to the accompanyng drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top or plan view of the apparatus provided by this inventionshowing .the Kelly rbushing in operative position in themaster bushing.Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical detailed sectional view taken asindicated by line- 1-2 on Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged verticaldetailed sectional view taken as indicated by line 33 on Fig. 1. Fig. 4is a fragmentary horizontaldetailed sectional view taken substantiallyas indicated by line 4-4 on Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertic'aldetailed sectional view illustrating one of the v I vided in the wall ofthe portion 20' of the open-,

any suitable or practical manner.

connections between the master bushing and the Kelly bushing taken asindicated by line 5-5 on Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary verticaldetailed sectional view illustrating one of the connections between therotary table and the master bushing taken as indicated by line 66 onFig. 1. Fig. 7 is a top or plan view of the assembly showing the slipsin operative position in the master bushing. Fig. 8 is a verticaldetailed sectional view taken as indicated by line 8-8 on'Fig. 7.

The apparatus provided by this invention includes, generally, a rotarytable I0, a master bushing H arranged in the table III to be driventhereby, a Kelly bushing I2 adapted to be removably locked in the masterbushing II to cooperate with a kelly K to rotate a drilling string andslips I3 adapted to be arranged in the master bushing II to grip andsupport a. string of pipe P.

The rotary table III is adapted to be mounted in a well derrick at theupper end of a well bore to drive or rotate the drilling tools, etc. Therotary table. It may be disc shaped in its general configuration and maybe mounted and supported in The typical means for mounting and drivingthe rotary table II! illustrated in the drawings includes skids I4carrying a base I5. The table III is supported on the base I5 through a.suitable bearing I6 and is guided by a guide .and hold-down ring I'I.Ring gear teeth I8 are provided on the under side of the rotary table I0and a bevel gear I9 meshes with the teeth I8 to turn or rotate thetable. The gear I9 is carried by a substantially horizontal shaft 9suitable supported on the base I5. The shaft 9 may be driven in theusual manner. The table I0 has a central vertical opening 20 forreceiving the master bushing I I. The major lower portionof the opening20' in the tableIO may be cylindrical or of substantially uniformdiameter throughout its length. The upper portion 2|! of the opening 20is enlarged providing an upwardly facing shoulder 20 on the wall of theopening. The upper surface 2| of the table I0 is preferably flat andhorizontal. In accordance with the invention grooves or slots 22 areproing 20. There is preferably a pluralityof circumferentially spacedslots 22. The slots 22 preferably extend to the upper surface 2| of thetable II! and preferably have flat vertical side walls and horizontalbottom walls. One or more of the slots 22 have lateral or horizontalbranches 22 at their lower ends. I have shown a branch 22* direction ofrotation of the rotary table.

The master bushing I I is adapted to be assembled in the opening 20 ofthe table II! to carry the Kelly bushing I 2,the slips S, and otherdevices for; engaging and supporting drilling strings, etc. The masterbushing II is preferably sectional to be more readily handled. In theparticular case illustrated in the drawings the master bushing IIcomprises two like or complementary sections 23. The master bushingll is-cylindrical in its general configuration and is proportioned toproperly fit the opening 20 in'the table I0. The upper portion II of thebushing II is enlarged to seat in the upper portion 20" of the opening20. The invention provides circumferentially spaced tongues or keys 24on the bushing I I for cooperating with the slots 22. plurality-of keys24 on each section 23 of the bushing II. One or more of the keys 24 oneach I2 and the slips I3.

'wall 21.

There is preferably a section 23 has a rearwardly projecting lug 24'adjacent its lower end. The keys 24 are adjacent the upper end of thebushing II and are shaped and proportioned to be readily entered in theslots 22. If desired or found necessary the upper walls of the slotbranches 22 may be bevelled as shown in Fig. 2 and the upper surfaces 8|of the lugs 24 may be correspondingly tapered. After the keys 24 havebeen passed into the slots 22 the sections 23 maybe turned to move thelugs 24 into the branches 22 of the slots. The in vention provides weartaking blocks 60 adapted to be passed into the slots 22 between theforwardly facing sides of the keys 24 and the rearwardly facing walls ofthe slots to lock the lugs 24 in the branches 22. The parts arepreferably proportioned and related so that the upper end 25 ofthe-bushing II and the upper ends of the blocks 60 are substantiallyflush with the upper surface 2| of the table II! when the keys 24 andblocks 60 are properly seatedin the slots 22. The walls of the slots 22areadapted to cooperate with the sides of the keys 24 to transmitrotation from the table II] to the bushing II while the blocksBfldependably lock the lugs 24 in the branches 22 and thus lock thebushing against movement in the rotary table I0. There may be asufficient number of cooperating slots 22 and keys 24 to dependablytransmit the greatest torque to which the master bushing II may besubjected so that there is no danger of failure or breakage of the keysor the adjacent parts of bushing H and the table. Tapped openings GI maybe provided in the upper ends of the blocks 60 to receive lifting rodsor handles.

The central vertical opening 26 of the master bushing II is formed tocarry the Kelly bushing In accordance with the invention the majorportion of. the opening 26 has a downwardly and inwardly inclinedsurface or The inclined wall 21 may extend to the upper end 25 of themaster bushing II, it'being a feature of the invention that the rotativedrive between the master .bushing I I and the Kelly bushing I2 does notnecessitate the provision of flat vertical walls on the interior of themaster bushing and is in the upper portion of the master bushing whichis provided with thick strong walls. If desired, the lower portion ofthe master bushing opening 26 may have a downwardly and outwardlyinclined wall 28. A hard wear taking insert or ring 82 may be providedin the lower portion of the opening 26 to prevent excessive wearing ofthe bushing II by drill pipe, etc. bein pulled or operated through theopening. In accordance with the invention a plurality of slots 29 isprovided in the wall of the opening 26. In the particular embodiment ofthe invention illus- I trated in the drawings there are four equallyspaced bayonet slots 29. The slots 29 are preferably identical in sizeand shape. The slots 29 are in the nature of bayonet slots whosevertical arms extend downwardly from the upper surface 25'of the masterbushing. The lateral arms 30 of the bayonet slots 29 are at their lowerends and may be substantially horizontal. The upper bushing II may bechambered and provided with Webs as at 3| to be light'in weight.

The Kelly bushing I2 is adapted to be arranged in the master bushing IIto rotate a polygonal drill stem or kelly K and permit'longitudinalshifting of the kelly during the well drilling open substantially flushwith the upper surface 25 of.

The slips I3 are preferably. provided in a set of ations. The Kellybushing I2 has a central vertical opening 33 shaped to shiftably passthe kelly K and shaped so that its walls have rotative drivingengagement with the surfaces of the kelly. In the particular caseillustrated in the drawings the kelly K is substantially square inhorizontal cross section and the opening 33 is correspondingly shaped.The Kelly bushing I2 is sectional pref erably comprising two likesections 34. The Walls of the Kelly bushing sections 34may be chamberedas at 35 to be light in weight. In accordance with the invention theKelly bushing I2 7 is proportioned so that its upper end 36. issubstantially flush with the upper end of themaster bushing II whenproperly seated inthe master bushing opening 26. The peripheries orouter surfaces of the Kelly bushing sections 34 are tapered downwardlyand inwardly toseat on the internal surface 21 of the master bushing II.As the internalsurface 21 of the master bushing It is of substantialVertical extent the Kelly bushing sections 34 may have extensive seatingor bearing engagement in the master bushing II Suit= able handles 31 maybe provided. on the Kelly bushingsections 34 to facilitate theirhandling.

The invention provides a novel and particularly effective rotative driveand lock between the master'bushing II and the Kelly bushing I2. Thedriving andinter-locking connection between the master bushing and theKelly bushing comprises spaced keys 38 on the Kelly bushing sections 34for cooperating with the bayonet slots 29. There is preferably aplurality of keys 33 provided on each Kelly bushing section 34.. Thekeys 38 are spaced and positioned to be readily entered in the bayonetslots 29 and are preferably spaced below the upper end of the Kellybushing sections 34 so that the upper ends 36 of the sections 34 may bethe master bushing I I as will be hereinafter described.

The Kelly bushing sections 34 may be individually inserted in theopening 26 of the master bushing I I- so that their keys 33 enter thebayonet slots 29 and may be turned to move the lugs into the lateralarms 36 of the bayonet slots.

Wear taking blocks 66 are then inserted in the.

slots 29. The blocks 66 are arranged between the forwardly facing sidesof. the keys 38 and the rearwardly facing walls of the slots 29 to lockthe lu s 65 in the slot arms 3!]. (Threaded openings 61 may be providedin the tops of the blocks 66 to receive lifting rods. 65' with thelateral arms 30 of the bayonet slots effectively prevents upwardmovement and displacement of the Kelly bushing sections 34 when theKelly bushing is under heavy torque and when the kelly K is raised. Thelugs 38 preferably have The cooperation of the lugsthree or more tofacilitate their easy handling. The slips I3 have tapered outer surfaces46 for seating in the master bushing opening 26. The

' peripheries or outer surfaces 40 of the slips |3 are tapereddownwardly and inwardly and are curved or convex to effectively fit andwedge against the tapered surface 21 of the master bushing II.. It is tobe particularly noted that the lengths of the slips to have engagementwith 'the tapered master bushing surface 21 throughout its verticalextent. The slips I3 are prefer ably proportioned so that their upperend portions project above the upper surface 25 of the master bushing IIwhen ,the slips are properly fitted in the opening 26. Thisproportioning and arrangement of the slips I3 provides for the easyconvenient handling of thelslips and provides for the bearing of theslips- I3 inv the upper thick-walled part of the bushing II. Pivotedhandles 42 may be provided on the upper ends of the slips- 36 to,facilitate their handling. It

is to be noted that-the handles'42 carried on the projecting upper endsof the slips may be flat on the upper surface of the table. The innerslips are assembled in the master bushing II.

The opening 43 is adapted to receive the pipe P and the inner sides ofthe slips I3 are pro-.

" vided with teeth 44 for biting into and gripping the pipe P. The teeth44 are shaped to dependably grip and support the pipe P. The-slips I3may be chambered as at 45 to reduce their weight.

It is believed that the utility and-practicability of the rotarytableassembly of-the present invention will be readily understood from thefore going' detailed description. The keys 24 of themaster bushing --IIcooperate with the slots 22 intherotary table I0 to provide a dependabledrive between the table and the bushing. The lugs 24 cooperate with thebranches 22 to prevent vertical movement'of-- the master bushing in thetable III while the blocks 66 lock-the lugs 24 in the branches .22 Thusthe master bushing II is effectively locked in the rotary table.

The blocks 60 take up any wear between the contacting surfaces andprevent excessive play from developing. There maybe a su fiicient numberof slots 22 and keys 24 to insure the transmission of heavy torquebetween the table III and the bushing II without endangering the thesquare. openings now commonly provided in rotary tables and masterbushings so that there is less danger of tools, etc. falling into the ofthe master bushing. Accordingly, the tapered seat or surface 21 of themaster bushing II may extend to its upper e'nd'to be of large extent andto provide for the,transmlss1on of force between,

the Kelly bushing l2 or slips l3 and the master bushing H at the thickwalled upper portion of the master bushing. The bayonet slots 29 5 andthe keys 38 cooperate with their lugs 65 to form a strong positiverotative drive and dependable lock between the master bushing H and theKelly bushing l 2. The cooperation of the lugs 65 with the lateral arms30 of the bayonet slots ,10 29 dependably prevents upward movement or 20Kelly bushing sections 34 and the slips 13 seating in the master bushingll to have their upper ends flush with or projecting from its upper endmay have their handles flat against the upper surface of the table toinsure safe opera- V 25 tions at the rotary.

Following the removal of the blocks 66 from the slot 29 the Kellybushing Il may be easily removed from the master bushing, the inclinedwalls 84 and. surfaces 85 cooperating to facilitate 30 the readydisengagement of the lugs from the slot arms; In withdrawing the kelly kits shouldered or enlarged lower end sometimes strikesupwardly againstthe lower end of the bushing I 2 and the cooperation oi the surfaces 85with 35 the walls 84 allows the lugs to automatically disengage from theslot arms 30 when this occurs without danger of fracturing the-lugs 65.

Having described only a typical'preferred form and application of myinvention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specificdetails herein set forth, but wishto reserve to myself any variations ormodifications that may appear to those skilled in the art or fall withinthe scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I.claim:'

1. In combination, a rotary table having a cylindrical opening and aslot in the wall of the opening having a lateral branch, the upper wallof the lateral branch being inclined, a master bushing arranged in theopening, a key on the master bushing extending into the slot to form atorque transmitting drive between the table and bushing, a lug on thekey cooperating with the lateral branch to lock the bushing in thetable, the upper side of the lug being inclined and easily freed fromsaid upper wall, and a removable block in the slot to lock the lug inthe branch.

2. In combination, a master bushing for arrangement in a rotary tableand having a cylindrical opening and a slot in the wall of the opening,there being a lateral branch communicating with the slot, the upper'wallof the lateral branch being inclined, a Kelly bushing arranged in theopening, a key on the Kelly bushing cooperating with. the slot to form atorque transmitting drive between the bushings, a lug on the keycooperating with the branch to lock the Kelly bushing in the masterbushing, the upper side of the lug being inclined and easily freed fromsaid upper wall, and a removable block inserted in the slot to cooperatewith the key to hold'thelug in the lateral branch.

' DENNIS L. DRISCOLL.

